Fraser Anning (Queensland, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

  (i) with great concern, growing levels of homelessness amongst Australians, in particular the elderly,

  (ii) long waiting lists for public housing, and

  (iii) the priority afforded to so-called refugees in the provision of public accommodation; and

(b) calls on state and Federal Governments to give absolute priority in all publicly-funded accommodation to Australian citizens over recent arrivals.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor unequivocally opposes this motion, which seeks to sow division and discord in the community. Labor deplores racism and condemns the senator for his attempt to cynically exploit rising homelessness to further his hateful and divisive agenda. Labor is deeply concerned about rising levels of homelessness in Australia. We have a positive agenda to tackle rising homelessness. A Shorten Labor government will restore national leadership through the Council of Australian Governments by developing and implementing a plan to reduce homelessness. Labor will also appoint a dedicated federal housing and homelessness minister. A future Labor government will also make the largest federal investment in housing since the Second World War, building 250,000 new affordable rental homes over the next decade, in partnership with the community housing sector, for Australians on low and moderate incomes.

Question negatived.